Liberal, Liberality, Liberally

liber-al, lib-er-ali-ti, liber-al-i: The different forms of the word all refer to one who is generous, bountiful, willing and ready to give and to help. Both the Hebrew words of the Old Testament and the Greek words of the New Testament translated into the English word liberal have a deeper and nobler meaning than is generally conveyed by the English word. In Pro 11:25, the liberal soul (nephesh berakhah) means a soul that carries a blessing. In Isa 32:5, the American Standard Revised Version has bountiful where the King James Version has liberal, and in Isa 32:8 noble takes the place of liberal (nadhbh). The principal Greek words are , haplotes literally, simplicity, sincerity, and , charis, grace, favor. In 1Co 16:3, bounty substitutes liberality. It is well to bear in mind that a Biblical liberality can spring only out of a noble soul, and is Godlike in its genesis and spirit.

Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Liberal, Liberality, Liberally

denotes (a) “simplicity, sincerity, unaffectedness” (from haplous, “single, simple,” in contrast to diplous, “double”), Rom 12:8, “simplicity;” 2Co 11:3 (in some mss. in 2Co 1:12); Eph 6:5; Col 3:22, singleness;” (b) “simplicity as manifested in generous giving,” “liberality,” 2Co 8:2; 2Co 9:11 (AV, “bountifulness,” RV marg., “singleness”); 2Co 9:13 (AV, “liberal”). See BOUNTY, No. 2.

is rendered “liberality” in 1Co 16:3, AV. See BOUNTY, No. 3.

“liberally, with singleness of heart,” is used in Jam 1:5 of God as the gracious and “liberal” Giver. The word may be taken either (a) in a logical sense, signifying unconditionally, simply, or (b) in a moral sense, generously; for the double meaning compare A, No. 1. On this passage Hort writes as follows: “Later writers comprehend under the one word the whole magnanimous and honorable type of character in which singleness of mind is the central feature.”